EDMOND — City council members agreed to spend up to $90,000 to buy and move an 18-foot bronze statue from outside the Houston Astrodome to Edmond.

A bronze sculpture by the late artist Dave McGary may be purchased by the city of Edmond. The sculpture, "Touch the Clouds," depicts a 19th century Miniconjou chief who fought alongside Crazy Horse at the Battle of Little Big Horn. It now stands outside the Houston Astrodome. PHOTO PROVIDED. PROVIDED

The deal comes with the stipulation that the sculpture, “Touch the Clouds,” by artist Dave McGary must be in good shape.

His widow, Molly McGary told The Oklahoman Tuesday the sculpture is in bad shape and must be refurbished.

“They never took care of it,” Molly McGary said. “It will have to come back to the studio to be refurbished. It can't be moved there without being refurbished.”

David McGary died Oct. 11 of kidney cancer at the age of 55.

He had studios in Ruidoso, N.M., and Scottdale, Ariz. He was best known for his larger-than-life portrayals of American Indians in authentic indigenous clothing intricately replicated.

The McGarys donated the 20,000-pound sculpture of an Indian chief to the Astrodome in 1998.

The statue depicts a 19th-century Miniconjou chief who fought alongside Crazy Horse at the Battle of Little Big Horn.

City officials have not determined if the statue needs to be refurbished and have not allocated any money for repair.

Randel Shadid, a local art enthusiast who brought the deal to council members, said Tuesday after talking with Molly McGary that to refurbish the piece could be expensive.

“If it isn't acceptable, we won't do the deal,” Shadid said. “It was sad to hear this. I am still optimistic that we can do something.”

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by Diana Baldwin

Sr. Reporter

Diana Baldwin has been an Oklahoma journalist since 1976 and came to The Oklahoman in 1991. She covered the Oklahoma City bombing and covered the downfall of Oklahoma City police forensic chemist Joyce Gilchrist misidentifying evidence. She wrote...